irritation
UK[ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃn]US[ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃn]
n
the feeling of being annoyed or slightly angry
n
a painful or uncomfortable feeling in a part of the body
Morpheme Breakdown
ir
rit
ation
ir
intensive
rit
excite
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'irritation' originates from the Latin verb 'irrītāre', meaning 'to excite, provoke, or stimulate'. This verb itself is an intensive form, built on the base 'rīre' (to laugh), suggesting a sense of provoking or rousing a reaction. Over time, the meaning shifted from general provocation to specifically provoking annoyance or a physical inflammatory response. The modern English term retains this dual sense, capturing both the psychological state of being annoyed and the physiological state of inflamed discomfort.
Analysis
Structure: ir (intensive) + rit (excite) + ation (noun suffix)
- ir: Latin prefix, a variant of 'in-' meaning 'into, toward, thoroughly'. Here it functions as an intensive prefix.
- rit: From Latin root 'ritare', a frequentative form of 'rīre' (to laugh, to grin). In this context, it evolved to mean 'to excite, to provoke'.
- ation: Latin suffix '-ātiōn-', forming nouns of action or state.
Examples
The constant noise was a source of great irritation.
The chemical can cause skin irritation.
He tried to hide his irritation at the repeated delays.